On Saturday February 7 the cities of Montreal Quebec City Sherbrooke Saguenay Gatineau Trois Rivières and Rimouski witnessed a broad wave of protests demanding the restoration of the Quebec Experience Program QEP. In freezing cold that the government may have hoped would silence dissent the streets were filled with people anger and determination. These demonstrations were not numbers or passing crowds but a collective outcry against a policy that treats human lives like files in a cold administrative system
Contrary to official rhetoric these mobilizations showed that people in Quebec are neither blind nor indifferent to the suffering of thousands of families who have invested their lives here. They have put down roots raised children worked paid taxes and contributed to the economy and social fabric. Yet the Minister of Immigration tells them plainly that there is no guarantee they can stay
We are facing an ideological and punitive policy that breaks a promise made to workers students and families. Respecting one’s word is the foundation of political legitimacy but the Quebec government chose to trample this principle by abolishing the QEP. This decision united not only those directly affected but also civil society chambers of commerce employers unions several mayors cities and many residents who spoke with one voice saying that abolishing the QEP is a bad and dangerous idea for everyone
This is not a technical adjustment or an administrative reform. It is a sudden change of the rules in the middle of the process. More than that this is not a game. We are talking about human destinies children and the future of entire families. That is why the demand is clear the immediate adoption of a protection clause for all those who built their lives on the promises of the state
Many of those affected are union members working in essential sectors from health care to industry and services. Targeting them is a direct attack on the working class and its solidarity. Our struggle will not stop. We will continue to expose and resist this decision in the streets in the media and everywhere necessary until it is withdrawn. Justice cannot be frozen. Dignity cannot be erased by decree
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